The complex Goldberg-Sachs theorem in higher dimensions
Abstract
We study the geometric properties of holomorphic distributions of totally null -planes on a -dimensional complex Riemannian manifold , where and . In particular, given such a distribution , say, we obtain algebraic conditions on the Weyl tensor and the Cotton-York tensor which guarrantee the integrability of , and in odd dimensions, of its orthogonal complement. These results generalise the Petrov classification of the (anti-)self-dual part of the complex Weyl tensor, and the complex Goldberg-Sachs theorem from four to higher dimensions. Higher-dimensional analogues of the Petrov type D condition are defined, and we show that these lead to the integrability of up to holomorphic distributions of totally null -planes. Finally, we adapt these findings to the category of real smooth pseudo-Riemannian manifolds, commenting notably on the applications to Hermitian geometry and Robinson (or optical) geometry.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1107.2283,
title = {The complex Goldberg-Sachs theorem in higher dimensions},
author = {Arman Taghavi-Chabert},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1107.2283},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
Section 2 partly rewritten: issue regarding self-duality clarified. Section 5.2 clarified. Some remarks added. Lemma 3.7 (previously 3.7) corrected. A few mathematical and notational inaccuracies corrected, and typos and sign mistakes fixed throughout. Some references added